Positive news surrounding Rhea Ripley’s potential WWE return date - Reports

The WWE Universe continues to patiently await Rhea Ripley's return. The Aussie Superstar has suffered multiple freak injuries in her eleven-plus-year career, and this latest incident will keep her on the shelf for some time. Sources are now revealing new details on Ripley's return plans, what happened in the ring that night, plus backstage chatter.

The Eradicator brawled with Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez on the October 21 RAW but suffered what was later announced as a fractured orbital bone. The October 29 NXT featured a parking lot segment where Ripley was attacked by the current Women's World Champion and her enforcer. WWE then blamed Ripley's fractured right orbital socket on the attack, writing her out of the storylines for "an undisclosed amount of time" with no real further details.

During the earlier brawl on RAW, Liv caught Rhea with a Codebreaker. After a few more minutes of action in the ring Ripley stunned Liv with a headbutt to to the mat. Dominik Mysterio saved Liv from a Riptide on the apron, but Ripley yanked him into the ring for a Prism until Liv and Raquel made the save again.

The initial belief was that Ripley suffered the orbital bone injury in delivering the aforementioned headbutt to Morgan. However, the 28-year-old indicated on X that she seemingly suffered the fracture in taking the Codebreaker from Morgan that led to the finishing sequence. Ripley was praised for finishing the spots while hurt.

As of November 1, there was still no word on any sort of timeline for Ripley's return to action. The decision to write her out of the storylines with the NXT segment was reportedly made at the last minute, with one factor being the fact that Ripley lives in the Orlando area, and shooting the segment for NXT would prevent her from traveling, and it would tie-in to the storylines.

The Nightmare is preparing for her return to the ring, but there is still no firm timeline for when she might be medically cleared. However, PWInsider reported on a situation that could see Ripley return ahead of what many expected. Sources noted that there's been recent talk within WWE on how Ripley's injury was not as severe as originally thought.

WWE officials have had some sort of significant role planned for Ripley at WrestleMania 41 next year, so there's still hope that Mami will be ready to go by then. The lead speculation is that Ripley could be back into the mix no later than the Royal Rumble and the kickoff to WrestleMania Vegas season.

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Cody Rhodes teases WWE WrestleMania 41 plans

WWE is just over five months away from WrestleMania 41. The big event is scheduled for Saturday, April 19, and Sunday, April 20 at Allegiant Stadium near Las Vegas.

Cody Rhodes headlined Night Two of WrestleMania 39 and both nights of WrestleMania 40. Speaking on The Pat McAfee Show, the current Undisputed WWE Champion teased something big in the works for The Showcase of The Immortals, but he did not elaborate.

"WrestleMania 41... I am looking to do what I've done three times now, and enter the main event. But I think it will be something that, perhaps, is bigger than anyone anticipated," Cody Rhodes said. [From 1:00:49 to 1:01:06]

Rhodes' last televised title defense came on the SmackDown season premiere on September 13. Cody retained the Undisputed WWE Championship over Solo Sikoa in a Steel Cage match, just two weeks after retaining over Kevin Owens at Bash in Berlin.